Discuss in brief four segments of environment.
Ans. Environment means the surrounding of the object. Environment consist of four segments namely :
a. Atmosphere : Segment which includes various gases, water vapours.
b. Hydrosphere : Containing water bodies.
c. Lithosphere : Which contain land/soil and
d. Biosphere : Which includes atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere with life like plants, animals and other organisms.
These four segments are discussed in detail as follows :
A. Atmosphere : It forms the envelope of the earth containing various gases (like Ne, He, CH4, 03, N2, 02, CO2, Ar), water vapours, suspended liquids and solids.
Significance :
1. It forms the main source of :
(i) Oxygen which is essential for life.
(ii) Carbon dioxide essential for photosysthesis.
2. It forms the clouds, weather, rain etc.
3. Atmosphere protect the earth from excessive radiations, it balances the heat on the earth. The atmosphere extents vertically upto several thausands kilometers.
The structure of atmosphere is divided into four layers as :
1. Troposphere
2. Stratosphere
3. Mesosphere
4. Thermosphere
B. Hydrosphere : This segment consist of glaciers, streams, rivers, lakes as the fresh water bodies and oceans, seas as salty or marine water bodies. Of the total water present on the earth, 97% is containd in seas and oceans, 2% is locked in glaciers and polar ice and only 1% is avaibable as fresh water in lakes, streams, rivers and underground resources.
C. Lithosphere : The uppermost layer of soil on the earth is the mostimportant region of the lithosphere. It contains organic matter, and source of producing food for animals and human beings. This segment also includes the biological activities and decomposition of organic waste, by micro-organisms in the soil.
D. Biosphere : In this segment all the three layers i.e. hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere with all the life forms are included.
The life sustaining resources such as air water, food etc. are recycled within the biosphere.